Stakeholders have renewed advocacy for the United Nation UN-recommended thirty percent or the National Gender Policy’s of thirty five percent affirmative action targets for women in both elective and appointive positions,especially at the grassroots structures to boost financial inclusion and literacy.
They renewed their support for the thirty percent women representation in governance at the ratification of documents on the Household Economic Strengthening and Resilience, HEAR, project, facilitated by an NGO, Humanity for Family Foundation for Peace and Development, HUFFPED.
The stakeholders believed that thirty percent representation of women in governance will strengthen coordination, inclusive policies and sustained advocacy that would translate into tangible economic gains for grassroots women across Lagos state.
At the multi-stakeholders forum at Ikeja, Representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Tayo Oseni-Ope, recommended collaboration with the Agency for Mass Education to address women’s education gap at the grassroots and proper documentation of interventions.
“Our advice and suggestion is an open thing; it is not a closed thing,” he said.
Mr Oseni-Ope emphasised leveraging the Lagos State Single Social Register, which captures vulnerable residents across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs.
“Vulnerability is relative, and it depends on individuals,” he said, urging proper profiling at Ward and Local Government levels.
“Any agency that wants to do intervention must mine from the single social register. You don’t need to know anybody. Once you are on that register, you are good to go,” he assured, noting that philanthropic organisations such as the Dangote Group, MTN, Access Bank, and others rely on verified data for interventions.
To qualify, he advised residents to obtain a LASRRA card and National Identification Number (NIN), noting that databases have been synchronised.
He also encouraged stronger coordination with Women Affairs departments and youth structures at local levels.
“You don’t have to capture everybody immediately. You can make the women at the Local Government Areas leaders,” he said.
Addressing education gaps, he recommended collaboration with the Agency for Mass Education and advised proper documentation of interventions.
Mr Oseni-Ope however advised HUFFPED to utilize GPS in the areas of their interventions for global visibility which promotes transparency.
“Donors can track your activities… to be sure you are doing what you said you are doing,” he said, stating that funders would look for HUFFPED once they see transparency”.
The Executive Director Programmes in HUFFPED, Mr Henry Adenigba explained that the project does not seek to duplicate government initiatives but to complement them through improved monitoring and collaboration to make women more financially independent.
“It is not different from what Lagos State has done,” he said. “We are boosting what the state has already put in place to ensure better coordination and improved livelihoods for women and girls.”
On target groups, Adenigba emphasized that the approach is inclusive and accommodates overlapping age categories.
“There is no need for strict streamlining because development projects often overlap,” he explained. “Life itself is continuous. Once you turn 18, you are considered an adult under United Nations definitions, but that does not mean support should stop.”
He added that the HEAR Project captures individuals across life stages to ensure continuity rather than fragmented interventions.
“A project must be transitioning and adaptable to different ages of life,” he said. “Everybody must be captured.”
On her part, HUFFPED Executive Director Administration and Finance Mrs Kemi Adeyeye, acknowledged efforts by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs in skills acquisition and enterprise programmes.
“We appreciate the French Embassy for funding that made this gathering possible,” she said, stating further that, “Such engagements are essential for development.”
“The Ministry of Women Affairs has done a lot. They have empowerment centres across the state, and participation is affordable,” she said.
She disclosed plans to intensify the use of social media platforms and influencers to expand outreach.
“A lot of these women are on TikTok and other social platforms,” she said. “We intend to intensify our efforts so that more women can get to know these opportunities.”
The Guest Speaker who is a legal practitioner, Mr Ayo Adebusuyi, emphasised sustained advocacy to financial institutions to design more inclusive lending models that recognise alternative forms of collateral and group-based financing systems common in informal sectors.
Other Stakeholders also underscored the importance of leveraging grassroots governance structures such as Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations to deepen women’s participation in decision-making.
Reporting By Yemisi Dada